Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin struck an upbeat tone Monday for his State of the City address, emphasizing new projects and community outreach efforts as opposed to the slow-growth initiative that has people in town divided.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a political action committee learned it had collected enough signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot, which means residents will get to vote in November on a key change to the city charter.

The initiative aims to weaken the City Council’s power by allowing voters to approve or reject certain rezoning proposals – a plan Gin himself opposes.

Yet the mayor steered clear of that dicey debate during his breakfast address at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, instead highlighting recently established building standards for the pier and King Harbor, the opening of the North Redondo Beach Bikeway and the contributions of city firefighters during the recent wildfires.

He also mentioned a handful of newly formed citizen committees – including a 33-member panel focused on the oft-debated issues of traffic and growth management.

Another group will weigh guidelines for public art, which Gin wants to see more of around town. “We want to create art in areas we all walk through, we drive through, that’s out in the community,” he said.

The mayor lauded members of the Redondo Beach Library Foundation for their commitment to raising money for a new branch on Artesia Boulevard – now a top building priority.

As the project languished and elected officials learned last fall that some donors were considering pulling their funding, the council agreed to bridge the gap with $2.5 million.

“This is a project that has touched all of us in the community,” Gin said. “We’re on track to do the design this year.”

The mayor ended by handing out a lifetime achievement award to a resident of his choice – a tradition started by his predecessor, former Mayor Greg Hill.

This year’s honoree is Amador Espinosa, a longtime former secretary to the police chief. He has continued to volunteer with the department since retiring in 1993 after 37years.